Government workers are set to get a major blow to their earnings by losing a raft of their allowances should an advisory by the Salaries and Remuneration commission (SRC) sail through.

The SRC recommends that retreat allowance, sitting allowance for members of institution internal committees and task force allowance payable to members of internal institution task force be scraped from the wage bill altogether. The commission also proposed a review of task force allowance and daily subsistence allowance for local travels where payable.

This will see more changes in the public work force as the commission seeks to control the growing public wage bill which shows the government spends just about 46% of the GDP in payment of salaries.

In a message to public agencies across both the national and county governments on August 7th , the commission outlined its intention of continuing with its review of allowances paid to the public service that began on late 2021.

“The review and advice therefrom is expected to result in equity and transparency in the management of allowances  and guide the government in management of the wage bill.” The letter signed by SRC commissioner Lynn Mengich stated.

The letter went ahead and stated that the review of allowances was being done in phases where the first phase was completed last year “and the second phase starting with the review of ;retreat allowance, sitting allowance for institutional committees, task force allowance and daily subsistence allowance ( local and foreign trade) for public officers.”

The commission today is expected to have a scheduled press briefing in which treasury cabinet secretary Njuguna Ndung’u is expected to be in attendance to make an announcement that is expected to touch on salaries and allowances.

In a letter to public agencies on Monday by SRC, the commission advised that on retreat allowance paid to public officers for participating in special assignments meant to review, develop and produce policy documents away from their work station amounts to double compensation thus recommending its abolition.

The commission also recommended payable DSA payable in all cities and towns that range between kshs4200 to kshs18200 and required that DSA shall not be payable for locations within 50km radius of respective duty stations of the officers affected.